Two Months

Weston,

I can't believe that you are two months old...these past eight and a half weeks have flown by, and you have changed drastically since you were born. I don't even recognize you as the baby that you were on your birthday! You have grown out of much of your crying phase, and we no longer have periods during the day where you scream at the top of your lungs. Mommy & Daddy can make you happy now, and you smile and grin at us to let us know.
You have started cooing and talking to us all the time, and we just love it. It's so much fun, and we love all the funny expressions that you make. You are such a serious baby, and it can be difficult to get a grin out of you sometimes.

You rolled over from your stomach to your back during this month, and you have done it a few times since then. You are SO strong, and you like to stand up on Mommy & Daddy's legs. You will also sit up against something, if you are propped up. We just are enjoying these phases so much! We can't wait to see your progress and are looking forward to the next few months and all the changes that you will go through.
Here are your two month statistics and milestones:

• 12 lb. 13.5oz. We are still exclusively BF'ing, and we haven't yet had to supplement with formula. It's been a very rewarding experience and SO convenient, because I don't have to carry bottles and formula with me everywhere! :)
  
• 23.5 inches long...
• Moved up from Size 1 to Size 2 diapers
  
• Still in most of his 0-3 Month clothes, but he can also now wear the 3-6 month or 6 month outfits. They are still a little big, but I'm sure they won't be that way for long!
  
• Watches Mom & Dad constantly
  
• So alert and independent...you like to sit quietly by yourself and watch everyone and everything around you!
  
• You cry at bedtime...we can't figure it out! During our bedtime routine after you get out of the bathtub, you start screaming at the top of your lungs. We think you are overtired, but we aren't sure. It's tough, and it's difficult to soothe you when you get like that! We hope you'll grow out of it soon...
  
• You have big hands and big feet...everyone says that you look just like your daddy!
  
• You fight sleep...you hate taking naps and hate going to bed at night...your are definitely your father's son. He hates sleeping, because he feels like he might miss out on something.
  
• You have the sweetest smiles, and I just can't get enough of them! :)
  

Love, Mom

Just some photos...

Playing with Mommy! :)

Weston's 1st Day of Daycare...Me with NO Make-Up yet!

1st Day of Daycare...looking scared!

Trying to wake-up, so I can see the Easter Bunny!

Me & Mom visiting with the Easter Bunny...this was taken in the less than five minutes that I was awake! ;)

Work is going well, and it's been nice to get in a schedule, but we've been so busy! It's been tough to keep up, but in 20-something days I'll be finished with my MBA, and I'm hoping that things begin to slow down. I'll update more tomorrow, hopefully at work, but I wanted to post some new photos of my little guy. I'll add his two-month photos as soon as I get them downloaded from my camera.

Announcement of Weston

So, I meant to post this awhile back, but we had Birth Announcements made to send out to all of our friends and family with a sweet photo of our little guy. I was so proud of the announcements, and it was SO good to finally get them sent out.

Here is a photo...I've been so crazy busy lately, so I haven't had a chance to post about how being back at work is going; however, I'll post at some point over the weekend.

65 in 365...An Update

Initially posted on February 10th - I'm updating today to show my progress...I'm pretty pleased with how well I've done, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things continue to go as I start back to work and get on a schedule. :)

1. Run two 5K's - One in Spring and one in Fall - In Progress: Spring 5K Scheduled
2. Walk in the neighborhood with Weston a minimum of four days a week (weather permitting) - In Progress
3. Work-out on my own aside from walking in the neighborhood three days per week - In Progress
4. Get a babysitter (grandparents) and go out on a date with Grant at least once per month - In Progress: February - Check, March - Check, April - Scheduled
5. Leave Weston with my parents for the night, so Grant and I can go away for our Anniversary - Scheduled and Hotel Booked!
6. Clip coupons for Grocery Shopping - In Progress
7. Maintain a $150-200 per Grocery Budget
8. Stay up-to-date on Weston's Baby Book - In Progress
9. Stay up-to-date on Weston's Sticker Calendar - In Progress
10. Join a Ladies Weekly Bible Study with Church - DONE
11. Stay up-to-date on Weston's Scrapbook - In Progress
12. Make small photo books of Weston's Newborn Photos and give to the Grandparents - In Progress
13. Make weekly grocery shopping lists and stick to list! - In Progress
14. Develop a Family Notebook to include a calendar and menus - In Progress
15. Make Weekly Menu and plan ahead - In Progress
16. Keep Weston's Clothes organized and box in Storage boxes as he grows out of them - In Progress
17. Keep a cleaning schedule and follow through with schedule as designated - In Progress
18. Create a website for Weston to include information and photos to keep family updated on his progress - DONE
19. Host my parents and sister for dinner at least twice - In Progress: Scheduled One Dinner
20. Host my in-laws for dinner at least twice - In Progress: One Dinner completed (3/13)
21. Try out one new recipe each month
22. Develop a budget and STICK to it!
23. Record all expenditures to keep on track with budget
24. Develop a daily schedule and stick to it with Weston - DONE...Continues daily, but working out great so far!
25. Start working with Weston on a few sign language signs to help us communicate better
26. Plan Weston's 1st Birthday Party at our House
27. Finish up and follow through with "The Love Dare" with Grant
28. Read and sing to Weston every night before bed - In Progress
29. Start infant swim lessons with Weston this summer (Indoor Pool)
30. Join Baby Music Class once a week and attend at least two-three times per month - In Progress - Signed up for Summer 2010 Session
31. Start Weston on "Your Baby Can Read" videos at 3 months
32. Breastfeed for an entire year or until no longer able due to unforeseen circumstances - In Progress
33. Take photos of Weston at a minimum of once per week - In Progress
34. Make time for myself...I want to do everything I can for Weston, but take care of myself, as well...get a manicure or pedicure, eyebrows waxed, take a long shower and fix my hair, wear make-up, etc. - In Progress
35. Come up with a new Family Tradition for our little family
36. Join Weight Watchers after getting the "go-ahead" from my doctor at six weeks - DONE - I've lost 9.8 lbs. on WW since I joined! :)
37. Meet my Weight Watchers goal - In Progress, but I have a ways to go! :)
38. Spend more time in the word and in prayer with God - In Progress
39. Resume an intimate relationship with Grant...I know that this has been one of my fears that having a child will change our intimate relationship; however, I realize that it will change regardless, and I just want to be sure that once we get the "okay" that we resume an intimate relationship and work on keeping it strong. - DONE - It's going great, and I couldn't be more happy with how it's working out!
40. Visit Grant's grandparents in Greenville at least twice this year - In Progress: 1st Visit on 3/14, but we will visit again over the Summer.
41. Visit my grandparent's in Buford at least twice this year - In Progress: 1st Visit in late February, but we will visit again over the summer...they live on Lake Lanier!
42. Take a trip to Memphis & Nashville with Grant in the Fall
43. Take Weston to his first Atlanta Braves Baseball Game - In Progress: Date Selected in September
44. Take Weston to his first UGA Football Game
45. Take Weston to his first UGA Baseball Game
46. Start Banks on his Senior Hunter Tests to gain Senior Hunter Title - Attend at least one weekend of Hunt Tests before end date
47. Get photos taken of Weston at Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year - In Progress: Newborn Photos completed!, 3 month photos scheduled!
48. Start and complete the 30 Day Shred - In Progress: I'm on the way! :)
49. Keep up with Weston's Monthly Photos with Sticker Number Months - In Progress: Took "0" and 1 Month photos...will take 2 Month tonight or tomorrow!
50. Read six adult books (not childrens books) - In Progress: 1/6
51. Buy a new bathing suit for myself - In Progress: Picked one out!
52. Take Weston to the Lake
52. Take Weston to the Beach for Family Vacation - In Progress: Scheduled for last week / weekend in June
53. Get Birth Announcements sent out for Weston by March 15th - DONE
54. Schedule Weston's Baptism - DONE
55. Send out Baptism Invitations - DONE
56. Host brunch at our house after Baptism

Only three more days...

...until I go back to work, and I'm SO sad! I don't even know where to begin, but it's all I can think about today. I just look at him and almost burst into tears, because I want to stay home with him everyday, and I don't want to leave him. I want to spend my days with him, but it's not an option for us right now. Hopefully at some point, it will be, but not right now.

I go back to work next Thursday and Friday for half-days, and I am off on Monday, because he gets his two-month shots. I can't believe that he'll be eight weeks old next week...where did the time go? It has flown by already!

Today...I have lots to do. We have company coming for the whole weekend, and we are going to Greenville, SC on Sunday, so Weston can meet his great-grandparents. I need to straighten up around the house and go to the grocery store in preparation for our weekend guests, but I don't want to do any of it, and I haven't moved from the couch since we woke up this morning. We played together this morning after he woke up, and he is now napping in my arms. I can't put him down. I'm just dreading it, and I know that I'm going to be even more sad next week.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes, but it might be a few days until I can post again!

Well, he can roll over...

...and I found out the hard way. So, I was preparing a bottle of BM for Grant, because I was going to be away from the house this evening during Weston's dinner time. I didn't want Grant to have to deal with an angry baby until I got home, so I went ahead and used some of the fresh BM that I had pumped earlier in the day, and I made a bottle. Anyways, while I was making the bottle...I had left Weston laying on the couch. He was sound asleep next to me, and I moved him away from the edge with his head facing out and his legs facing the back of the couch.

I think you all know what is coming...I was finishing up with the bottle, and I had just put it in the refrigerator and was getting ready to turn around and walk back to the couch when I heard a loud "THUD" followed by a brief moment of silence. Then, I heard screaming! Weston had somehow rolled over and fallen off the couch onto the floor. I'm not sure how it happened, and I can't picture how he rolled off in my head, but he did it!

My heart immediately stopped, and I was shaking for fear that he was hurt. Thankfully, I scooped him up off the carpeted floor (and to think that we are preparing to replace with wood floors at some point), and I comforted him until he stopped crying. He only cried for a few minutes, and I felt all around, and he didn't have any pain. He has been fine all evening, so I know that he's not hurt, but he definitely gave me a heart attack! I will NOT leave him alone anywhere except in his crib, pack and play, swing or on the floor. I'm so grateful that it happened on the short fall from the couch to the floor and not our bed to the floor or the changing table to the floor. I've left him momentarily in those locations too, because he couldn't go anywhere.

I've definitely learned my lesson...the hard way!

Bedtime

We have established a great bedtime routine for Weston, and it's working well for us...Weston gets a bath or a sponge bath every night to relax him, as well as, lotion on his chest, arms and legs. After his bath, we read him a story, he nurses, and I put him down in his bed awake. He does great, and he lays there for sometimes over an hour and finally drifts off to sleep. We have no problem with his sleeping...he wakes up once in the night, and he eats and goes right back to sleep, so we are definitely blessed in regards to sleeping.

My question is...What time does your little one go to bed? What age did they start going to bed at that time? At seven weeks, what time were they going to bed? I'm not sure what is "normal" or if there is a normal at this point. Weston typically goes down around 8:00 PM, and he does fine, but it's pretty normal that he lays there wide-awake for an hour before falling asleep. Do we read to him more or let him lay there? Is 8:00 PM too early for his age? I'm not sure...I have no clue really. Any ideas or suggestions or experiences anyone has to share?

Motherhood FAIL

So, yesterday, I went to the dentist, and I had my mom come over and watch Weston while I went to get some cavities filled. I came home, and we relaxed together and my mom stuck around and we chatted for awhile. The afternoon was great! I went out to Wal-Mart to take care of getting a few items that we needed around the house while my mom was still at the house. I came back and all was quiet. As my mom prepared to leave, Weston started getting fussy, and he was crying as she headed out the door.

Grant got home and thought he would quiet him while I put up the items from Wal-Mart. No success...he couldn't get him to stop screaming. So, I decided I would switch off with him and see if I could settle him down. It was a complete FAILURE! He continued to cry and scream at the top of his lungs for the next hour and a half. We finally decided to bathe him and get him ready for bed, since he loves baths so much. That worked until he got out, and he started up again. About that time, it was time to eat, so I fed him, and afterwards, he started screaming again. I didn't know what to do...My baby was screaming at the top of his lungs, and I didn't know what was wrong, and I couldn't fix it. I felt like a terrible mother! I tried everything...walking with him, bouncing him, changing his diaper, feeding him, giving him gas drops and the list goes on.

Finally, as terrible as it sounds, I gave up. I couldn't do anything, so I decided to just put him down in his crib. I did, and he immediately stopped crying. I watched him on our video monitor, and he stayed awake looking around in his crib for about an hour and finally drifted off to sleep. We didn't hear another peep out of him until 2:00 AM when he was ready to eat again. I'm not sure what his problem was, and he is a different and very happy baby today, but that could change at any minute. :)

I on the other hand am having a hard time shaking it...I know that it's going to happen and there will be times when I can't make my little guy stop crying, but it's SO difficult. I feel like a bad mom, because I couldn't figure out the problem. And then laying him down stopped him from crying, so he'd prefer to be alone than with his mommy. :( I know that I will have MANY occasions when I feel like this, and I really need to get over it. I'm going to get frustrated and breakdown, and I'm going to feel like a bad mom sometimes. Everything isn't always perfect, and I have to accept that life is full of imperfections, especially with a little boy who doesn't always know what he wants. :) And when its not perfect...I have to remember that I have a loving, wonderful husband who will let me breakdown and cry when I'm feeling like a terrible mother and assure me that Weston loves me and that I'm a wonderful mother. I love him!

Operation Intimacy = SUCCESS

So, I posted that I went to my six-week check-up on Tuesday, and I was given the "go ahead" for time with the husband...well, it was a HUGE success! I'm not sure if it was because we had waited so long, but it was so great! It was way better than it was while I was pregnant that's for sure, and I didn't have any pain or soreness. Better yet, I also didn't have any dryness, and I'm exclusively BFing. I know people said that I would have to use lots of lubrication, because I would be so dry. Well, I guess I'm one of the lucky few, and we didn't have to use any! Yay! It was such a huge success that we went for Round 2 last night! Now, we've just got to be careful and use extra precautions, so we don't get another little Weston too soon! ;)

Weight Loss Wednesday on Tuesday

So, last time I posted, I weighed 135 lbs., and I now weigh 130 lbs. I have 16 lbs. left to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight which is SO much, but I'm actively working on it. I went back to the doctor today for my six-week check-up, and she said that everything looks awesome, and I'm doing great! So, I have clearance for everything...exercise, dieting and intimate time with my husband! ;)

I started Weight Watchers, and I went today to get weighed and get started. I'm so excited, so now I have real weight loss updates to post on Tuesdays, because I'll be going to weigh-in! I'll post updates weekly, and I'm looking forward to losing the weight and being back to my "happy" weight. Especially since I'm in two weddings this summer!

I'm running a 5K on April 24th, so I've got to start jogging. I'm running with some friends, and I don't plan to run very fast, but I'm looking forward to it. On another note, Weston is being baptized on April 25th, and I can't wait. And I really can't wait until Grant gets home tonight...I never thought that I would be so ready for intimate time with him! I really thought that I would not be in any hurry, but I just can't wait! Sorry TMI!